It’s personal finance 101 that you’ll always get a better deal when you buy a used car. The original owner takes the depreciation hit and you get a barely-used car for 2/3rd of the price (or less!). You can take this a step further, though, a look for cars from dead manufacturers. Cars such as Saab, Oldsmobile and Pontiac are among 10 car brands that are no longer in production, but are still widely available on the used market.

Supply Vs. Demand

Supply and demand is the most basic economic concept. If there’s a large supply, but limited demand, prices decrease. Demand is relatively low for these types of vehicles. That means you can find great deals. This works best with a private party, but some dealers may discount the price due to limited demand.

Demand is low because people don’t understand what it means to have a car from a dead manufacturer. They wrongfully think that as soon as something breaks that the car will be unfixable. This is resoundingly false.

Dealing With Repairs

The biggest objection people have to buying a dead car brand is dealing with repairs. Can you find parts? Will mechanics be willing to work on this? The answer to both questions is a resounding yes. The aftermarket auto parts industry is huge. There are thousands of companies that do nothing but manufacturer and distribute hard-to-find parts. For example, a quick search for SAAB 55559955, the part number for a Saab ignition coil, yields thousands of results.

When it comes to mechanics, most will work on any car regardless of the brand. Again, a quick search for Saab mechanics returned over 800,000 results. The fact that the car is no longer in production doesn’t make much of a difference when it comes to repairs.

When it Comes Time to Sell

Inevitably, there will come a time where you are on the other side of the transaction. For one reason or another, you will be selling that car that’s no longer in production. How do you beat the arguments that you used when purchasing it? Always be diligent and you will make the most on your used car. Here are some specific tips.

Keep impeccable maintenance records. This not only shows how mechanically sound the car is, but it also shows how easy it is to have repairs done.

Appearances are everything. Do a full detail job. The better the car physically looks, the less the buyer will be concerned with minor mechanical issues.

Advertise the car better than anyone else. The more eyes you can get on the car, the better chance you have of getting an offer.

Don’t pass on a great deal of a car just because the manufacturer is no longer around. Take advantage of the opportunity to get a great car on the cheap. Be educated and informed and you’ll see that the concerns that cause other people to pass on the deal is what keeps more cash in your pocket.

Comments

It’s good to know that a car being in production or not doesn’t really make a difference when it comes to getting repairs. We have been looking at a specific SUV that we like but is no longer being made. My husband was very worried about the repairs aspect. I’ll have to show him this article to help him be more comfortable with buying it!

It would be smart and nice to be able to save some money on a used car. I think a lot of people don’t realize that you can get some really good used cars. They are also really good with being able to get spare parts for. A lot of the older cars have generic parts which makes it easy to get spare parts when things breakdown.

I’ve started to try to be more honest with myself and be aware of my own limits. That means I can’t balance everything in my head all the time. It’s an excellent tip to keep impeccable maintenance records of a car. It helps with everything, including when it comes time to sell.

I am about to buy a used car for my daughter, and I am very glad that I came to this article. I loved the idea that appearances are everything. It seems like so often the owner of the car explains how reliable the car is, only its physical shape has some questionable issues about it. Thanks for sharing this information with me, as it certainly has helped!

Excellent tips listed. The Supply vs. Demand concept is crucial when looking for deals on used vehicles. Staying current with the country’s economic state will help you know when the best time to look to buy is.

When you have repairs that you need to make on your car what better way to restore your car but by getting new parts. Buying new parts I would agree is a great way to save your car and not have to go through the hassle of buying a new car. That is smart to pay attention the warranty of new parts as well as their age. Thank you for sharing!

I’m surprised so many people are concerned about people not working on their old cars. I have a junker and it has never really been an issue. I would also suggest that, if parts are hard to find, look for a junk yard in your area. Many are willing to sell you old parts from other cars.

I like what this article mentions about supply and demand for a car. I am in the market for a car, and I am thinking I’ll buy used for the obvious benefits. I think that getting a car that isn’t highly sought after is perfect for me, as I am no place to pay for luxuries. I will definitely have to keep this in mind when shopping around. Thanks for sharing!

I really like how you said explained that, “Supply and demand is the most basic economic concept. If there’s a large supply, but limited demand, prices decrease.” I think this is a great concept because if you wait for the right time, you can save a lot of money. There is a Toyota Rav-4 that I really want to buy, but its slightly out of my budget. How much do the prices go down every year it gets older?

This is an interesting concept that I have never thought of before. My wife and I are currently in the market to buy a car and we have always thought we would buy a used car. But getting a used car from dead manufacturers can save even more money. This gives some more things to look into. Thanks for the info!

This is some really good information about what to do if you want to save money on your car. I like what you suggested about keeping good records of any maintenance done to your car. It seems like it would be a good thing to do if you ever need to replace any auto parts on it. That way, you know what things have been replaced and where you got the parts.